Automobile door closure operating assembly

ABSTRACT

A door closure operating assembly, particularly for a door of an automotive vehicle body, including a fastening element with a locking member and a handle pivotable about an axis extending in a substantially vertical direction operatively engaging with the fastening element, wherein a depression is formed in a door panel in the region of attachment of the handle such that the handle lies flush with the major portion of the door panel when the handle is in a closed position.

United States Patent [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS [72]Inventor HansColell Schwieberdingen, Germany 4 5 3 56 7 3n 1n1 7 3 ,6 22Z 99 7.2

J m M m m nm% mm. u hus umog auil eu HKGMGF 670044 334446 999999 HHHHHH94 557 8003453 840469 .93 3 556 8 578044 ,J 222223 N a m 9 h e m6 0 n Pa R u n an 9 h n8 67 ww m N i ..D 43 a 4 r n B PM W P BAAFSA & de mm mMQ o fla n AFPA P 111] l 1-253 2 2247 3 [[11 1 Germany PrimaryExaminer-Stephen J. Novosad Assistant ExaminerEdward J. McCarthyAttorney-Craig, Antonelli, Stewart and Hill AUTOMOBILE DOOR CLOSUREOPERATHNG ABSTRACT: A door closure operating assembly, particularly g afastening P YD L3 B 5 m m SO A5 [52] [1.8. 292/165, for a door ofanautomotive vehicle body, includin 292/l69.l l, 292/3363 element with alocking member and a handle pivotable about [51] Int. E05c 1/14, an axisextending in a substantially vertical direction o perawherein adepression is formed in a door panel in the region of attachment of thehandle such that the handle lies flush with the major portively engagingwith the fastening element,

70/208 tion of the door panel when the handle is in a closed position.

AUTOMOBILE DOOR CLOSURE OPERATING ASSEMBLY BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONDoor-operating handles have conventionally been provided on vehicledoors in the form of a fixed member projecting outwardly from the outerdoor panel. The operation of the door latch and lock is commonlyeffected by means of a pushbutton disposed within the handle assembly.

Conventional arrangements of this sort incorporate inherentdisadvantages from a safety standpoint in that other drivers orpedestrians can be injured by the handles, which project outwardly fromthe outer door panels. Furthermore, in cold weather, a layer of ice canform between the pushbutton and its guide housing, thus rendering theeffective operation of the door lock difficult, and in some cases,impossible.

In order to overcome these disadvantages, door-operating handles in theform of pivotal members arranged within a depression in the outer doorpanel have been constructed. Such arrangements partially overcome theproblems inherent in the outwardly projecting pushbutton-type handles inthat the pivotal handle is provided as a component which does notproject outwardly from the outer door panel. However, as these pivotalhandles are generally arranged to pivot about an axis disposedsubstantially parallel to the vehicle longitudinal axis, the motionrequired for operation of the handle is awkward; therefore, the handleis not optimally adapted to its primary function in the structure.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide adoor-operating handle in the form ofa pivotal member provided within arecess formed in an outer door panel such that the handle, in the closedposition thereof, extends approximately flush with the major surfaceofthe outer door panel.

Further, it is an object of the present invention to provide a pivotalhandle of the type described above, which is constructed to pivot aboutan axis extending in a substantially vertical direction, thus,facilitating the operation of the handle.

Finally, it is an object of the present invention to provide a pivotalhandle assembly of the type described above, together with complementarylatch and locking members, which are simple and inexpensive to produceand which effectively preclude fouling in cold weather.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The foregoing objects are accomplished, inaccordance with the present invention, by providing a depression in theouter door panel in a region adjoining a lock column. The pivotal handleis then disposed completely within the depression formed in the outerdoor panel and arranged for rotation about an axis extending in asubstantially vertical direction. Thus, the pivoting motion of thehandle required for opening the door may be easily executed although thehandle is recessed from the surface of the outer door panel so that itdoes not serve as a potentially injurious projection from the outersurface of the door panel. A depression is provided in the lock column,in the region of the operating handle, thus insuring a functionalaccessibility to the handle.

At one end, the handle is provided with bearing yoke legs havingforklike fingers hingedly connected with pins of a trip membersurrounding the outer shell of the lock housing and serving foractuation of the door latch. Thus, the component parts required fortransmitting the pivotal movement of the handle to the lock assembly canbe constructed, in accordance with the present invention, in a simpleand inexpensive manner.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The foregoing objects, features andadvantages of the present invention will become more readily apparentfrom a consideration of the detailed description herein below, whenconsidered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. I represents a lateral view of an automobile body, illustrating thedetail in the region of the door-operating handle assembly;

FIG. 2 represents a section along line II-II of FIG. I, on an enlargedscale; and

FIG. 3 represents a section along line III-III of FIG. 2.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the portion of the vehicle bodyillustrated in FIG. 1, the automotive vehicle body, generally designated1, includes a door 2 provided with an operating handle 3, and a lockcolumn 4. As seen most clearly in FIG. 2, the door 2 includes an outerpanel 5 with a recess 6 formed therein. Within recess 6, apertures 7, 8and 9 are provided within the outer panel 5 of door 2.

The operating handle 3 is disposed within recess 6 and in cludes afastening element 10, a lock housing 11 with a conventional latch member12, and abutment members 13 and 14, each provided with threaded borestherein. A handle 15 is pivotably connected with the fastening element10 by means of bearing yoke legs 16, 16' (FIG. 31) having forklikefingers 17, 117', respectively. The bearing yoke legs 16, 16' of handle15 are hingedly attached to an abutment 18 of fastening element 10 bymeans of a pin 19. A spring clip 20 supported upon pin 19 betweenabutment 18 at one end and, bearing yoke legs 16, 16 at the oppositeend, serves to return the handle 15 after pivoting thereof into anopening position (shown in dotdash lines in FIG. 2).

In order to open the door lock, which is not illustrated in the drawing,a displaceable release member 21 is provided at the fastening element10. The release member 21 may be constructed, for example, of asynthetic material and be provided in the form of a ring 22 surroundingthe outer shell of lock housing 11 of the fastening element 10 and mayfurther include extension arms 23, 23. Cylindrical cam members 24, 24'are disposed on extension arms 23, 23', which cam members cooperate, inthe manner of a linkage, with the forklike fingers I7, 17' of handle 15.

The operating handle assembly 3 is mounted to abutment parts 13, 14 ofthe fastening element 10 by means of screws 25, 26. The built-inoperating handle assembly 3 extends, together with lock housing 11 offastening element 10, through aperture 8 of the outer panel 5 of thedoor 2. A rubber member 27, supported upon outer panel 5 as well as onlock housing 11, is provided for sealing aperture 8.

The lock column 4 is provided with. a recess 28 in the region of theoperating handle assembly 3 whereby handle 15 is easily accessible forpivoting manipulation.

When opening the door 2, the handle 15 is rotated into the positionshown in dot-dash lines in FIG. 2 whereby the release member 21 is movedthrough the fingers 17, 17 and cam members 24, 24 into the positionshown also in dot-dash lines. This operation effects a release of thedoor lock (not shown) and hence an opening of the: door. When the handle15 is released, the release member 21 and the handle are automaticallyrotated into the rest position by means of spring clip 20.

While the present invention has been described with reference to but asingle embodiment thereof, it is to be understood that the scope of theinvention is in no way limited to the specific details thereof, but issusceptible of numerous changes and modifications as would be apparentto one with normal skill in the pertinent technology.

What is claimed is:

1. A door closure operating assembly, particularly for an automotivevehicle body having relatively fixed lock column means comprising:

fastening means, including a lock housing and a displaceable releasemember;

operating handle means operatively connected with said release member tocause displacement thereof between an open position and a closedposition, said handle means being pivotally connected with saidfastening means for rotation about an axis extending in a substantiallyvertical direction, and

outer door panel means defining a recess in the region thereof adjacentto said lock column means,

wherein said operating handle has a free end which is remote from theoperative connection of said handle means with said release member,which free end is disposed, relative to said outer panel means, withinsaid recess so as to terminate essentially flush with the edge of thedoor adjacent the lock column means, such that the outer surface of saidhandle means, in the closed position thereof, is substantially alignedwith the surface of the major portion of said outer door panel means.

2. An assembly according to claim 1, wherein said handle means includesbearing yoke leg members each having a forklike configuration.

3. An assembly according to claim 2, wherein said release memberincludes cylindrical cam means, said yoke leg members with a forklikeconfiguration engaging said cam means to cause displacement of saidrelease member in response to motion of said handle means.

4. An assembly according to claim 3, wherein said handle means ispivotally connected with said fastening means by way of a bearing pin,and further comprising spring clip means at said bearing pin means, saidspring clip means biasing said handle means into the closed positionthereof.

5. An assembly according to claim 4, wherein a portion of said releasemember is constructed in the form of a hollow cylindrical member adaptedto surround said lock housing.

1. A door closure operating assembly, particularly for an automotivevehicle body having relatively fixed lock column means comprising:fastening means, including a lock housing and a displaceable releasemember; operating handle means operatively connected with said releasemember to cause displacement thereof between an open position and aclosed position, said handle means being pivotally connected with saidfastening means for rotation about an axis extending in a substantiallyvertical direction, and outer door panel means defining a recess in theregion thereof adjacent to said lock column means, wherein saidoperating handle has a free end which is remote from the operativeconnection of said handle means with said release member, which free endis disposed, relative to said outer panel means, within said recess soas to terminate essentially flush with the edge of the door adjacent thelock column means, such that the outer surface of said handle means, inthe closed position thereof, is substantially aligned with the surfaceof the major portion of said outer door panel means.
 2. An assemblyaccording to claim 1, wherein said handle means includes bearing yokeleg members each having a forklike configuration.
 3. An assemblyaccording to claim 2, wherein said release member includes cylindricalcam means, said yoke leg members with a forklike configuration engagingsaid cam means to cause displacement of said release member in responseto motion of said handle means.
 4. An assembly according to claim 3,wherein said handle means is pivotally connected with said fasteningmeans by way of a bearing pin, and further comprising spring clip meansat said bearing pin means, said spring clip means biasing said handlemeans into the closed position thereof.
 5. An assembly according toclaim 4, wherein a portion of said release member is constructed in theform of a hollow cylindrical member adapted to surround said lockhousing.